Hogwarts Express Compartment 12

Cole was on board the Hogwarts Express headed to her beloved Hogwarts. It had been a tough month and she felt like Hogwarts was just what the doctor ordered. She kind of felt guilty leaving her mother alone at her fragile state, but she couldn't bare the thought of not continuing with her studies. She stopped her train of thought. She promised herself she wouldn't think about that when she was at school.

She managed to get a compartment to herself. She didn't really feel like socializing at the moment. Every time someone would open the door she simply had to glare and they would slowly take a step back and close the door. It was actually kind of fun. A little game she made up.

School. She was going to think about school. She was going to focus on her studies and Quidditch and nothing else.

Jericho MacDougal made his way through the train. He had stopped at the Prefects' compartment to see who from the year below him had been considered for the positions. It wasn't just the Slytherins he was interested in either. No, Jericho took a full inventory. Although he'd tried to weasel himself a seat in what basically amounted to the VIP carriage of the train it didn't last long and he and his mates had to begin their search anew. With him he had a long, slender case. In it was his early-release of the prototype Shooting Star 3001. Although he'd never had a luggage mix-up before, Jericho was not about to let that broom out of his sight until it was safe and secure in the Slytherin Common Room.

It didn't matter to the teenager if they were in the first car. Heck, they could kip in the caboose and Jericho could care less. So long as they weren't riding outdoors on the top of the locomotive anything was fine. Now, if his mother were there... that would be nightmarish on far too many levels for him to desire to fathom. He could only just imagine what Lilith MacDougal had been like as a girl in school. A frown lined his face as compartment after compartment was either literally full or had too many people for his taste to consider it decent for him and his friends Hector Beckett and William Macnair.

Finally, at long last, they came upon a relatively empty compartment. There was only one person within, and... Jericho could hardly hold back his most malevolent smirking grin. It was none other than Columba Mars, his bitter rival since the first year. She seemed preoccupied. "Well, well, well... Look who we've got here," Jericho boomed as he slid open the door. He pushed it open wider to admit not only himself but his cohorts.

With a smirk to the other Slytherins in his entourage of sorts, Jericho arrogantly plopped himself down somewhat next to Cole without so much as asking if he could be seated and crossed one leg over the other. It wasn't so close as to suggest warmth, but not far enough to squeeze another person between them. He rested the broom carrying case against where his knee met his thigh. "Well sit down," Jericho muttered to Beckett and Macnair, who seemed to be at a loss for what to do next. Beckett took the seat at Jericho's right while Macnair sat semi-diagonally from him.

As she looked at the picturesqued english countryside, Cole was considering leaving her self proclaimed solitude in search for her fellow housemates. Maybe look for Lainey and talk about Quidditch - that was always fun. She was meant to pop in the Prefects compartment anyway. Cole valued her time alone but it was the ride back at Hogwarts. It would keep her mind occupied anyway. Unfortunately, she waited a moment too long and fate sent her unwanted compartment mates.

At the sound of the train door sliding open Cole readied her eyes for the 'leave me or else' look. But at the sight of who it was who opened the door, her blue eyes faltered. Cole mentally cursed and knew it was going to take more than a glare from her to get rid of this intruder.

Jericho MacDougal, the devil in a sixteen-year-old body, was wearing his trademark smirk.

The door opened wider, and it turned out the intruder had friends. A moment later, Cole reassessed her situation. Compartment 12 went from having one lonely Ravenclaw to filling out with Slytherins. They weren't intruding, they were invading. She was outmanned and out numbered but she wasn't about to give up her compartment without a fight.

She launched her first attack, "I didn't say you lot can sit there."

"That's because we didn't ask," Jericho replied coolly, giving her a sideways glance and a quirk of an eyebrow. The other two snickered quietly. To emphasize his claim to space Jericho leaned back and rested his head behind his hands. "Everywhere else is full, and I decided to graciously leave an entire compartment of mudbloods alone. Duels are a bit messy for this time of morning. Don't you agree, Beckett?" Jericho smirked.

"Aye," replied Beckett, a small but malevolently toothy grin on the other kid's face.

Macnair kept silent, not having been addressed, and kept to eyeing the broom case leaned against Jericho's knee.

"Looking forward to Ravenclaw being sent to a whole different galaxy by Slytherin this season, Mars?" The question was punctuated by an arrogant chuckle.

Cole sighed. "I've asked you not to use that word, MacDougal." Honestly it was a useless endeavor, but Cole wasn't going to give up. That wasn't her style. She wanted to tell him off properly, but considering her current situation, she thought better of it. She spared Beckett and Macnair a glance but reserved her frown for MacDougal. Whatever MacDougal said the other two would follow. It was three against one. She was righteous not stupid.

Besides, the topic was disregarded as soon as it was picked up. MacDougal had ready moved on from picking at Muggle-Borns to picking at Ravenclaw. She really shouldn't take the bait. Six years of interaction has taught her it was never a good idea to take his bait. But ugh, with his stupid face - she just couldn't resist. She loved wiping that stupid smirk of his face, may it be in Quidditch, lessons or whatever she could do to best him.

She took the bait. "And why would that happen? Judging from your rather embarrassing defeat - oh pardon me - defeats in the past, oh I don't know five years? How would you even fandom beating Ravenclaw?" It was a little embellished, and overconfident - it actually wasn't like her at all - but he did seem to have the wonderful gift of bringing out the worst in her.

Jericho simply made a face at Cole, too lazy to lift his hand and wave off the rebuke. He wasn't going to change the way he talked for anyone. That especially included the Ravenclaw seated to his left.

He scowled and sat up properly when Cole took the bait. "Because," the youth answered haughtily.

"Turner was a right idiot," Beckett supplied with a snicker. "Wouldn't listen to nobody."

"Slytherin's had a few rough years, I'll admit, but that wasn't my fault," Jericho admitted with the countenance of someone that just swallowed a whole lemon. "But now that Turner's gone I've been made the new Quidditch captain, and over the summer I've been training and invited people over for pre-season trials... Not to mention I also happen to have a little surprise up my sleeve," Jericho bragged, reaching almost protectively for the case propped up nearby that had started to slide a little. Beckett assisted by stopping the item with the toe of his shoe.

"You still haven't shown it to either of us yet, Ric," Macnair spoke up, interest glittering in the boy's hazel eyes. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you're full of it... The newsletters haven't said a word."

Cole rolled her eyes when Jericho blamed Slytherin's losses at the Captain and not his own inadequacies. That was mainly for show though, Jericho wasn't as bad as a flier as Cole would like. With a better Captain, he could may well be a perfectly adequate player. That was more than she could say for the two idiots who sat opposite of her. All brawns and no brains only make - well zombies.

At the news, Cole couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. "They made you the Quidditch Captain?" Cole said incredulous. Cole hadn't really been that bothered that she wasn't made Captain - Lainey was an excellent player, Cole would have picked her herself but with Jericho's superiority complex now with the ammunition of Captaincy, Cole couldn't help but wish.  "Though, I shouldn't be surprise I suppose." Cole looked at Beckett and Macnair in turn. "Clearly they didn't have much choice." Maybe Cole shouldn't have been so brave. She was in a very small room with three boys who could easily out power her physically, who wouldn't think twice about her well being, and who had a history of disregarding the rules as the saw fit. She hardly thought her Prefect status would do anything to stop them if they decided it was a good idea to hex her. There was also the wonderful little tid-bit incentive of her Half-Blood status. But with the events of the summer still fresh in her mind, she didn't really give a damn. She should have been more cautious, but she felt the opposite. She felt bolder. Life was short, why hide?

At the little exchange between the Slytherins, Cole raised an eye brow. Were they acting for her benefit? What was up his sleeve? 

"Alright, I'll play. What's your secret weapon?" She crossed her arms and tried to look disinterested, though she was anything but. The box that Jericho had hulled into their cabin had not escaped Cole's notice. Could that be where the 'secret' was? Jericho did no seem like the type of bloke who hulled things for the fun of it. In fact, he wouldn't hull anything at all. He would make one of his lackeys do it. Tha settled it, what ever it was, it was in the case. And judging by the size of the case, she was willing to bet it was a broomstick. Not just any broomstick, a Shooting Star 3000 probably. Of course MacDougal would get one. A rich Pureblood like him. But her Captain had one too. Besides, a broom is only as good as it's player. She didn't know what newsletters had to do anything about it though. Maybe, she didn't care.

"Who else?" Jericho asked, quirking a brow at her. He smirked. "I notice you didn't quite make that distinction: my letter mentioned who the other captains were. What a pity," the youth mocked. A trio of evil-looking grins twisted onto the Slytherins' faces. Unfortunately, the girl's best mate, Harper, had made the Captaincy. That probably put Mars snugly in the position of co-captain. But that didn't matter. Her name wasn't on the official list of captains, which made it all the more fun to dangle the fact that he was an official captain over the witch's head.

"More like clearly I'm the best flier on the current team," Jericho corrected her. One could've sworn he held his nose just about at ceiling level with that comment. Beckett and Macnair glared at Mars but didn't so much as flinch when their friend didn't remark on their flying skills. The amber eyes of Jericho set themselves on Macnair at his comment. "I'm not full of it. The newsletters haven't said anything because it's all very hush-hush."

"Right," Macnair remarked, though seemed a little skeptical.

At the question from Cole, and a gesture from Jericho, Beckett hoisted up the case and laid it across both his and Jericho's laps. Jericho took the latches on his end, and Beckett on his. "I wouldn't call it a 'weapon' per se... But it's definitely gonna give Slytherin an edge this year," Jericho declared boldly. Beckett attempted to open the case for Jericho, but the sixteen-year-old smacked the other boy's hand away. Without further adieu Jericho opened the box...

Revealing a pristine new broomstick and authenticity certification card within: a Shooting Star 3001

Cole spared MacDougal a dirty look. Right, just as she expected. Wouldn't have been wonderful to make him swallow his shiny new Captain badge? Hm, usually she wasn't so violent. She really should calm down.

She observed the Slytherins take MacDougal's case and made a sort of platform for it on their legs. She thought it looked a little bit like a Muggle movie, where the 'merchandise' in other words drugs were being shown for some sort of dodgy deal involving millions of money. She had to smile at MacDougal slapping Becketts hand away. The words, 'my precious' entered in Cole's mind.

Cole should have cared why newsletters were being mentioned, it would be given her some inkling to what was going to happen as a moment later, Cole was staring at a wonderful piece of magical magnificence. It was indeed a broomstick, but it wasn't a Shooting Star 3000 as she had so presumptuously assumed, no that was too mundane for the great Jericho MacDougal. Her heart beat a little bit faster and an uncomfortable chill ran up her spine: it was a Shooting Star 3001.

Cole wanted to remain cool. She wanted to remain unaffected but she couldn't help the raw awe that was most certainly showing on her face. The broom was in a word perfect. It couldn't be real. But MacDougal wouldn't have such a prominent smirk if it wasn't. That rat bastard.

The great reviews on the Shooting Star were already enough to make any broom enthusiast go straight to Diagon Alley and snag a set for themselves. She could only imagine what this newer edition would do.

Oh... what she would do to have one of those.

And MacDougal had one. If it had been his intention to silent the usually spirited Ravenclaw, he was successful.

"Wow... You weren't joking..." Macnair murmured, admiring the new broom. Beckett made a similar utterance of approval. It was indeed a fine broom. Inside was also a working advertisement for when they would be announcing the new 3001 model's development progress, next year. It declared this new 3001 version to be superior to its predecessor in speed, comfort, and handling.

"Can we have a go on it?" Beckett asked, lightly fingering one of the twigs.

"Maybe," Jericho grinned. On one hand he didn't want them to ride it since it was specifically given to him by Corvus, and didn't want it to be ruined if they accidentally flew too close to the Whomping Willow. Yet with the other, saying he would allow them to ride it might just make Cole a bit more jealous. That was assuming, of course, that she was jealous in the first place.

Speaking of the Ravenclaw in question, the look of awe and her continued silence only made Jericho grin wider. "It's supposed to be twice as fast as the 3000. ... What broom is it that you fly, again, Mars? A Bronze Arrow or something?" he said, feigning serious thought. Then he laughed. "I'll be flying whole planets ahead of you."

Cole was yanked back to reality with Jericho's unforgiving voice. He was dangling the broomstick in front of her. It was so petty. It was so Jericho. Ugh, she desperately wanted to sucker punch him. Bet that would wipe that silly grin of his face.

She needed to get her act together. This was simply too much. She couldn't allow Jericho to have the upper hand. She revered back to her disinterested demeanor swiftly.

"I admit, it is a nice broom." Cole said coolly. It was an understatement of course, it was more than just a nice broom. It was a fine broom. A broom any Quidditch Player of any age would only dream about. She was trying to undermine it. Failing of course. Everyone in the compartment knew it was more than just a 'nice' broom. The Nimbus 2500 was a nice broom. The Comet Five-Ninety as a nice broom. The Shooting Star 3001 was revolutionary.

If Cole wasn't jealous of him before, he was jealous of him now. Oh how she despited people who had things handed to them on a silver platter.

Still. Just because he had a top-of-the-line broom didn't mean anything. Slytherin's team still wasn't the best. A broom was only as good as it's Player anyway. She was confident in her team. "But it doesn't mean you'll automatically win. One player cannot carry the entire weight of the team. Ravenclaw will still win," she crossed her arms across her chest. "And we will without the advantage of a nice broom."

"Its really quite a shame that they gave that to you," Cole added regretfully. Her blue eyes sparkled mischievously to illustrate that she felt anything but. "I mean what would 'Which Broomstick' say when they find out the Shooting Star 3001 was beaten by a lowly Golden Arrow."

"It's more than a 'nice broom,'" Jericho retorted, forcing his voice at an octave to absurdly mimic Cole's tone of voice. "It's better than the Shooting Star 3000 that just came out. But then again, what does a girl know about Quidditch, anyway?" Yes, Jericho was aware that he was being sexist. He was also aware that if his mother got wind of it she'd smack him until he turned neon blue in the face. In all honesty he wasn't all that serious about the statement, but rather being deliberately immature about it all.

"Too bad you couldn't have got 'em for the rest of the team, too..." Macnair muttered. The jealousy was almost thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Yeah, well... the person who arranged this for me isn't about to trust any random group of Slytherins. He'd likely need to see for himself that they play well," replied Jericho curtly, closing the case. Beckett gave a shout as the lid was slammed on his fingers. Jericho simply gave the other boy a look, daring him to start something over it. Beckett backed down and simply re-sealed his end of the case instead.

"Of course it doesn't constitute an automatic win," Jericho rolled his eyes. "I'm not that stupid, Mars. Slytherin's gonna be getting a massive overhaul in its team this year and a more rigorous training schedule. The House-elves will be using your House mascot for a feather duster!" The trio of serpentine students snickered malevolently.

Cole gave Jericho a defiant look. Narrowed blue eyes reacted Jericho's immaturity. Really? Taking the sexist route? He was pulling all the stops today, wasn't he? So not only was she inferior because she had an older broom and happen to have Muggle-Blood but she was inferior because she was a girl too.

Why was he so infuriating?

She was so irked by him that she couldn't even enjoy the little Slytherin showdown between MacDougal and Beckett. Something she usually would be very amused at. But no, Jericho had to get under her skin. He had to make her feel inferior and silly. He was egging her on, she knew, but she couldn't quite help herself.

"Turner liked to talk too but never really had anything to show for it. Ravenclaw has always been consistently excellent in game play." She felt bold. "Slytherin has no chance, especially," she smirked, "With you as its Captain."

Jericho smirked at the defiant look Mars had bestowed him, though hadn't taken it specifically as the Ravenclaw might have intended. The teenager mentally noted that Cole was cute when angry despite the barbed tongue. He didn't dare say it aloud. If said in just the wrong way it may not settle well with his pureblood-centric mates.

Unfortunately she had a point about Turner that none of the three Slytherins could or would deny. This made all three of them frown, for they had no evidence to back up any rebuttal they might generate. Jericho, however, did let out a scoff of sorts about Ravenclaw's game play. In truth he couldn't deny that either if he wanted to be any means of honest, but he wasn't about ready to let Cole have her way.

Jericho scowled at Cole's last remark. "You wanna bet on that, Mars? Because quite frankly all that is going to change. Slytherin will win this time... Especially with me as its Captain."

At first, Cole scoffed at his proposal for a bet. Empty promises and empty words for MacDougal. To a Pureblood like him, losing a few Galleons was like - well losing a few Sickles. It wouldn't be much of anything for him. He who could buy everything and would too. He even got himself - not the latest broomstick but one better.

Her eyes flew to the package in front of her, an idea forming. She crossed her arms, a smug expression soon followed. She knew how to spin this to her favour.

She had nothing to lose, he on the other hand, along with his misplaced pride - she eyed the shiny new broomstick - had quite a lot to lose.

He was so cocky. Cole really should have heeded the warning of her conscience when it said to just ignore him and leave it alone but a part of her saw it as an opportunity to permanently wipe that stupid smirk off his face if - when Slytherin lost. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that Ravenclaw could and would beat Slytherin. They never proved to be a challenge in the four years Cole had been playing Chaser. Even with the changes Jericho was bragging about - she highly doubted that it would make any difference. She was so used to Slytherin's big talk. They never had results. It wasn't a bet as much as it was a certainty. Ravenclaw would win. Why couldn't she have a bit of fun on the side?

"All right then," Cole taunted, a new boldness overcoming her. "Why don't you put her new Shooting Star 3001 where your mouth is? If Ravenclaw wins the Match against Slytherin, it's mine."

The Slytherins waited for Cole's verdict on the proposal, feigning patience. Would she take the bait, or ignore it? Jericho ignored the scoff he received at the suggestion, though took keen and wary notice of Mars eyeing the broom case across his lap. Three pairs of eyes widened as the witch not only agreed to make a bet but also set the stakes a bit high: Jericho's Shooting Star 3001.

If it had been the intention of Cole Mars to send Jericho into silence, that did it. There was a lot to think about in taking those terms. She didn't have anything he wanted so bad that he couldn't get for himself in due course. Not to mention if either his mother or Corvus got wind of the fact he was betting this broom away... Jericho didn't even want to think about that. They trusted him, and he couldn't let either of them down. Yet if Slytherin was guaranteed a win, then this little bet was just a tease to make Mars think she had a chance, right? Decisions, decisions...

The problem lay in Jericho thinking of terms enough to match that of the Shooting Star. Mars was a half-blood, likely born of two half-bloods or - more rarely these days - a pureblood and a less-than-pure witch or wizard. Because she was insistent on the Golden Arrow, that told Jericho that her family wasn't wealthy enough to upgrade her broom. What could she possibly offer him that would be of equal or superior worth than what Corvus had gone to to get Jericho this broom? Perhaps if he made his end of the bargain so repulsive to the witch, she would reconsider and choose something lower on the scale of value.

Jericho had to admit, if only to himself, that at times Mars was rather easy on the eyes... For a half-blood, of course.

A smirk once again twisted around Jericho's lips. Surely if he suggested what he was thinking, Cole would say no. "In that case... if Slytherin wins against Ravenclaw, I want us to 'go steady' and date for a month."

Macnair and Beckett eyed Jericho as if they suddenly thought him insane.

Cole enjoyed expressions on the Slytherins faces as she made her proposal. She wanted to laugh aloud at the similar faces of outrage and shock that met her cool blue eyes. It seemed she had thought of a wonderfully delicious little deal. She mentally congratulated herself and wore a triumphant smirk.

She could almost see Jericho's train of thought. There was nothing she had that he couldn't in one way or another get. He was wealthily and spoiled - that much anyone knew at Hogwarts, he's modesty considering his Pureblooded riches was renowned, infamous even.

The smirk, however, as firmly placed as it was, was short-lived. It vanished from her face as soon as Jericho had said the words 'I want us to go steady'. What the hell was he playing at? Go steady with him? Date him? Was he serious? She was disgusted at the mere thought of... ugh! She couldn't even keep her expression in check. Shock, surprise and repugnance were surely in place of the smirk that had only moments ago had dominated. It took almost all of her energy to swallow the immediate urge to yell, 'Hell no' and leave the compartment to bury her head in a bucket of water to cleanse herself of this ordeal.

Her eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to her. He wasn't serious. He couldn't be. Jericho MacDougal the self-proclaimed Muggle and all related hater? Wanting to go steady with her? Her a Half-Blood? Her blood status wasn't exactly secret, in fact, Jericho liked to remind her from time-to-time just in case she'd forgotten. He probably knew what the thought of them 'going steady' would do to her. No, Jericho was trying to bluff her out of the bet. Cole was actually familiar with the maneuver - she secretly loved to play the Muggle card game, Poker.

Cole saw now she had greatly underestimated her opponent. She was so sure she had outwitted him. How stupid of her. And she was supposed to be a Ravenclaw.

Well, two can play that game. She was going to take his bluff and check it. She had nothing to lose anyway. Ravenclaw was a sure win, and there was a Shooting Star 3001 on the line. Cole put on a mask of indifference. "Fine, but no kisses." She waited eagerly to see his reply to that.

Jericho laughed out loud at the expression on Cole's face as he named his terms. For now he would ignore Macnair and Beckett. They wouldn't understand, and he wasn't about to dissect his reasoning for them right here and now. He thought for sure with the look he had received that Mars would restate a term of lower value so Jericho would lower his.

As Cole agreed, it was Jericho's turn to have the grin and laughter shorn from his countenance. 'What the hell?! She was supposed to say no!' Jericho thought. The teen supposed it wasn't so bad, on one hand. On the other he would now be expected to explain his behavior to his mates. Jericho would also have to explain to Corvus why he did not return with a Shooting Star 3001, in the event Slytherin lost. Corvus was like an older brother or a father to Jericho: letting Corvus down was not an option.

"... Fine," he muttered back. Why was a region at the back of his mind suddenly slightly disappointed? Jericho was suddenly confused.

"Erm..." Macnair attempted to venture. Jericho immediately gave the other boy a glare to silence him, and for good measure bestowed the same expression to Beckett.

She was observing Jericho to determine what his motives actually were in his next move. She was actually extremely confused at his proposal. She couldn't make sense of it at all. It was too extreme to be for a laugh wasn't it? But it had to be right? She knew from experience how he seriously took the issue of blood to heart. Actually, she didn't really believe half of the things he had said. She believed he was only parroting the ideals of his family. But still, he must actually believe it to an extent. And thus, this didn't make sense at all. She decided it had to be an intricate ploy to embarrass her. Well played. He didn't disappoint his house.

Was that a flicker of disappointment when she said no kisses? No it couldn't be. MacDougal would think twice about touching any one with blood that was less than 'pure' and he was probably the type who would wash up after accidentally brushing past a Muggle-born. No, the sentiment of no kissing was mutual... Right?

Whatever. The terms were set. It didn't matter. Ravenclaw was a sure winner and she'd have a wonderful new broom. All she needed to do really was ensure that MacDougal gave up his broom at the end of the match. She had a feeling that, though they had an oral agreement, it would mean nothing when everything was done. He was as unlikely to surrender his broom as he was unlikely to join Gryffindor. Besides, she didn't put it past the Slytherin to do something to the broom - an alteration or even give her not the original but an imitation. 

"Should we make this official then?" Cole straightened up. "I have no doubt that the witnesses," she looked at Beckett and Macnair in turn, "Would enforce my end of the deal. However, I am a little bit concerned that you will - ah - forget the bet ever happened when Slytherin loses."

Jericho quirked an eyebrow at Cole. That was the only thing about making a deal with a Ravenclaw: they were so bloody astute! "If," the teenager corrected her promptly. He wondered precisely how Cole wanted to make the bet official. It was also curious to imagine how Beckett and Macnair might try and prod Cole into sticking to his terms. Would they do that, Jericho wondered briefly? That was certainly something to ask of them once they had a moment all to themselves.

"And just how do you propose we make this 'official'?" Jericho returned, crossing his arms over his chest. He could see his mother proposing the Unbreakable Vow for something even as trivial as this. Jericho didn't like that idea at all. "I think it's pretty clear neither of us are willing to 'seal it with a kiss'..." As if to emphasize his point Jericho's face scrunched up in half-feigned disgust. Macnair and Beckett snickered at this: perhaps their friend hadn't completely lost his mind after all.

"Contracts of course." Cole explained. "Magically binding. When signed the we shall have to adhere to the condictions or else we'll," Cole tried to think of some sort of punishment. It had to be something Jericho would not undercircumstances do or some thing that would result in embarrassment else there was really no point. She thought through Jericho's character. She had known him for five long years. Cole smiled as her mind stumbled upon what she deemed a suitable penalty. "have the other's name tattooed on our foreheads. Agreed?" She didn't say the tattooing spell would be irreversible.

Jericho's display of disgust earned a raised eye brow from Cole. It was evidence that supported her conjecture on the matter. It was a ploy and nothing more. She smiled. Maybe there was an opportunity to get herself out of the future ordeal. Not that Slytherin would win or anything but just insurance. "You know, if you wish to change your asking price, now is the time I would concede." She'd much rather do his course work for a month or something to that extent rather than what he had proposed. He might as well have asked her to fetch an egg from a mother dragon. Actually, she would rather do that than have to date MacDougal for a month. At least the dragon would be more pleasant. The git probably knew this already but she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he got to her.

Jericho's eyes narrowed with suspicion at the proposal to use contracts. That didn't sound good for him, if in the event Slytherin lost. But Jericho wasn't about to admit that he knew the chances were iffy if he couldn't bring the team up to snuff in time. The only thing for it was to make absolutely sure Ravenclaw didn't win. That they were completely unprepared... Now, how would he go about doing that? "Seems a bit severe to me," Jericho began, sliding a glance over to Macnair. In a second the amber orbs snapped back to Cole with their usual arrogance. "But now I'm not sure which I like better: us dating or you having my name tattooed on your forehead." A toothy, borderline-malevolent grin twisted Jericho's face.

The teenager mimicked the quirk of eyebrow in hopes that things so very small would irritate her even more. Said eyebrow went further toward his hairline when Cole spoke next. "And what exactly would I change it to? I don't need money, I do well enough in my classes, and pretty much have everything that I could want right when I want it. Case in point..." Jericho paused to glance down at the broom case and patted it fondly. "If you want my broom then I'm not backing down from my 'asking price'. Especially since society's largely rejected the enslavement of people in most places." He smiled wide then, more than willing to let Cole's imagination run rampant with that one.

"But I'll change mine if you change yours?" Jericho knew there wasn't a chance Cole would change her mind, but he decided to put it out there anyway.

Only just now were Macnair and Beckett starting to see a possibility to Jericho's seemingly odd behavior.

"Nonsense," Cole reassured him. She took out two pieces of parchment from her bag. "It's just insurance after all." She enchanted it with the contract spell. "Nothing whatsoever will happen if you held up your end of the deal." Cole threw him at dirty look as he considered which he found more appealing. Neither scenario was particularly pleasant to Cole. Dating him - even for a month - was equivalent to swallowing a blasted-end skrewt and having his name on her forehead for ever was just as low on her 'To Do' list as shaking hands with the wizard who killed her father. However, if she didn't make the penalty severe she knew the Slytherin would slither himself out of the bet. Besides, neither was going to happen anyway because Slytherin would never win. It was just all talk. 

Jericho's attempt to mimic Cole was not unnoticed by the young witch. In fact it earn him an exasperated sigh. It was true, Cole couldn't offer him anything he would want as much as she wanted the broomstick. Only herself... Ugh the thought made her shiver outwardly. Blue eyes first widened then narrowed at his comment on slavery. So he wanted a slave and not a date. She felt sorry for him if he thought that the two were interchangeable. What was worse she wondered, to be Jericho's date or to be his slave? She couldn't decide. Either way she would have to give up all her dignity - something she was rather fond of and wouldn't give up easily. So perhaps in this case they were interchangeable.

She locked his stare and strengthened her resolve. "No, our terms are settled then." With a wave of her wand, identical words appeared on both parchment outlining in detail the terms and conditions of their bet.

She pulled out a quill from her bag and signed both parchments. "Now, if you would sign here," She pointed to one of the dotted lines clearly marked for Jericho to sign his name. "And here," a similar place in the other parchment. "It shall be done. That by the way -" Cole pointed at one of the parchments "- is your copy." Cole anticipated his next move. If he signed the contracts, the broomsticks were as good as hers! He was all talk so far. Signing it would make it all real. With her eyes, she challenged him to sign it. She challenged him to stick with his bluff. She wanted to smile.

The suspicion Jericho felt about contracts persisted. He did not doubt Cole would keep up her end of the bargain. Macnair and Backett would see to it whether the Ravenclaw liked it or not. Jericho wasn't sure if he would encourage them to make Cole see to her end of the bargain or not. The teenager was still a bit confused over the whole thing. He just wanted something so unlike their present relationship in the hopes she'd ditch the figurative swipe for his new broomstick.

Jericho smirked at the dirty look Cole threw him. It was one of his trademark expressions that dared the target to say something. The widening and then narrowing of Cole's eyes intrigued the wizard. For a few moments the youth entertained his own notion: what would be more enjoyable? Dating Cole, or declaring she 'serve' him in any manner deemed fit for a month? Jericho couldn't help but remember something Corvus had said to him about service: that it was best that loyalty found itself through admiration rather than fear. The wizard supposed disgust could easily be substituted in fear's place. In the end the option of dating won out over the notion of slavery. Jericho wasn't about to entrust his coursework to an enemy of sorts under assumption they would help him earn all O's when they were clever enough to arrange a lower grade.

He watched through distrustful, vaguely serpentine-esque eyes as Cole signed the dual contracts. She had even thought ahead to provide him with a copy. Lovely. All of a sudden Jericho felt three pairs of eyes on him. Cole's were challenging - he could see hers all too clearly. Jericho wanted to wipe that start of a smile off the Ravenclaw's face.

Macnair's eyes were no doubt watchful and doubtful, perhaps even more serpentine than Jericho's. Macnair likely thought Jericho was out of his right mind to even have entertained this bet with a half-blood, much less state a term that included dating someone not at all on the list of eligible pureblood witches available to them. Between the two cohorts it was Macnair attempting to come up with ways in which they could weasel Jericho out of this in the event this wager did not go according to plan.

Beckett, by contrast, had not yet attempted to plot any schemes. He was watching Jericho's every move with an agitated sort of silence. Whether Jericho should sign the contracts or not wasn't any of his business. If Jericho did sign them, however, Hector wanted to know. Jericho's signage would mean each member on the team would have to pitch in, play hard, and do whatever it takes to ensure Slytherin comes out on top against Ravenclaw for the sake of their Captain's dignity and the pride of their House.

There didn't seem to be any way out of this 'insurance' Mars had cooked up. He couldn't claim to be in dire need to use the loo or exclaim lateness for a class. Perhaps if Jericho managed to steal her copy and burn it along with his... or in some other way guarantee Slytherin a win. That was all there was for it: he would just have to sign and find a way to slither out of the bet without giving up his broom some way, somehow.

"I'm using my own quill, thanks," Jericho muttered, reaching for a pocket on the inside breast section of his robes. A dark green quill was instantly produced. Giving Cole one last wary glare he resigned himself to signing both copies. Jericho replaced his quill and reluctantly accepted and tucked away his copy of the contract in silence.

Cole eyed the green quill with amusement. Slytherin to the very core. "Suite yourself." She returned the quill she was holding to her bag. She carefully surveillanced him as he signed the contract. He seemed to be a little bit hesitant but he signed it anyway. She clenched her jaw to keep from smiling. That broom was as good as hers. 

She spared a glance at his two minions. They seemed to be generally surprised and surly. Clearly they did not like this agreement at all. Good. If they had seemed to be rather pleased with themselves then that would be a cause to worry. As it is, it seemed they were not aware of Jericho's bluffing strategy. She was amused at how easily she could read them. Weren't they Slytherin? Where was the cunning? Nevertheless, she gave them no second thought. They were irrelevant to all of this. She only wanted the broom - and well to knock MacDougal a peg or two.

Once he had finished signing her copy, she put it away in her bag for safe keeping. The last thing she wanted was for it to go missing. She might frame it, she thought, smiling inwardly, the sheet of parchment that got her a wonderful new broom and a permanent scowl on MacDougal's face.

"Pleasure," she smiled a bit arrogantly. "Doing business with you." She straightened up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've to go to the Perfect's compartment." She eyed the broomstick case that was blocking her way, silently implying for one of them to move it.